Man gets exclusive look inside the Airbus Beluga XL and can’t believe what the whale-shaped plane is hiding
Published on Oct 09, 2025 at 6:52 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This lucky man got a rare peek inside the Airbus Beluga XL, and he couldn’t believe what the cute whale-shaped plane was hiding in its belly.
It’s a story that goes back as far as The Bible, when Jonah got swallowed by a whale, but in this case, this YouTuber welcomed his fate with open arms.
The man got a chance to go inside an Airbus Beluga XL, one of the world’s strangest and biggest aircraft, which is named after the white whale it resembles.
This giant plane is a key part of Airbus’s secret logistics system as it spends its days ferrying massive aircraft parts across Europe every single day.
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Take a look inside the Airbus Beluga XL
Have you ever seen the biggest and cutest airplane in the whole sky?
Meet the Airbus Beluga XL, it’s essentially a flying cargo bay the size of a small office building, and it was designed to carry wings, fuselage sections, and other big components between factories spread across Europe.
This YouTuber managed to get to watch the Beluga take off and land, as well as meet some of the people that keep the Beluga-based operation running…swimmingly.
On a busy day, up to six Belugas can arrive, each carrying anything from empty wing jigs to full-size A330 or A350 wing sets ready for final assembly.
Unlike a normal passenger plane, this cargo aircraft opens up with its enormous nose door that swings up so that you can move big parts and smaller planes in and out with ease.
What is the whale-shaped plane hiding?
It’s jokingly referred to by the YouTuber as an ‘office with a view’ because the view from the cockpit changes so often.
Despite its pure size and the hefty weight of all of the cargo it carries, the Beluga can take off from surprisingly short runways, thanks to powerful, upgraded engines.
The most mind-blowing moment is watching the door close from inside.
With a press of a tiny button, the massive front hatch seals shut and transforms the whale-shaped plane into a flying fortress ready for takeoff.
Moments later, the engines roared to life, and this ‘whale’ lifted off the runway while carrying a new set of Airbus wings to Bremen, Germany, for finishing before final assembly.
We hope the Beluga XL has a whale of a time on its next adventure.
Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
